Lipstick Tester

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic tester for simulating application of a cosmetic is provided. The cosmetic tester may comprise a handle with a first end and a second end, and a topper attached to the first end of the handle. The topper may be shaped to form human lips. With such an exemplary cosmetic tester, the tester may be constructed from acrylic or plastic, and may be transparent. A back side of the tester may be covered with an opaque film, and the cosmetic may be applied to a front side of the topper. The tester may also be ⅛ of an inch thick or in height.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cosmetic tester adapted for simulating application of a cosmetic prior to purchase.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98

The present invention relates to a cosmetic sampling apparatus, which allows consumers to view cosmetic products, such as lipsticks and other types of viscous cosmetics prior to purchase. Generally, cosmetic retailers provide visual representations of the cosmetic products, but these visual representations are usually attached to a product display that holds and stores the products, or to the cosmetic product itself. The consumer currently does not have a simple way of viewing cosmetic products without applying or sampling the cosmetic products.

Furthermore, due to hygienic reasons, consumers may not want to apply or sample previously used cosmetics. Consumer protection and health regulations have been enacted to protect consumers in the case of applying or sampling cosmetic products.

Cosmetic manufacturers have introduced different methods of applying or sampling cosmetic products, such as trial size samples, and disposable makeup applicators. However, these methods still require consumers to apply and/or sample the cosmetic products on their skin. Thus, there remains an unresolved need in the cosmetic industry for a way to allow consumers to view, apply, and/or sample cosmetic products without direct application.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a cosmetic tester for simulating application of a cosmetic. In one embodiment, a cosmetic tester constructed as disclosed herein may comprise a handle with a first end and a second end, and a topper attached to the first end of the handle. The topper may be shaped to form human lips. With such an exemplary cosmetic tester, the tester may be constructed from acrylic or plastic, and may be transparent. A back side of the tester may be covered with an opaque film, and the cosmetic may be applied to a front side of the topper. The tester may also be ⅛ of an inch thick.

In another aspect, a method of using a cosmetic tester in accordance with the disclosed principles is also disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, such a method may involve applying the cosmetic to a front side of the topper of the tester, and holding the tester by the handle to a person's lips and therefore covering the person's lips with the topper to simulate application of the cosmetic with the front side of the topper facing away from the person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cosmetic tester in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the cosmetic tester is used in one embodiment.

The above figures are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosed invention. Use of the same reference number in multiple figures is intended to designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the particular embodiment. The extension of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a cosmetic tester in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The cosmetic tester 100 comprises a handle 110 and a topper 120 attached to one end of the handle 110. The tester 100 may be made from acrylic, plastic, or any other rigid material via any currently available or later developed method of shaping the tester 100. The tester 100 is preferably constructed from acrylic resin and formed via laser-cutting, extrusion, or any other currently available method of shaping acrylic into the shape of the tester 100. In a preferable exemplary embodiment, the tester 100 measures approximately ⅛ of an inch in thickness. In alternative embodiments, the tester 100 may vary in thickness.

The acrylic from which the tester 100 is made may be a ⅛ of an inch thick mirror acrylic from Plaskolite. The Plaskolite acrylic is different from other acrylic resins in that it is polymethyl methacrylate, also known as PMMA. In an exemplary embodiment, the acrylic from which the tester 100 is made is resistant to shattering or damage from the application of cosmetics onto the tester 100. The composition of make-up may cause damage to the tester if the acrylic from which the tester 100 is made is not resistant to the components of various cosmetics.

The tester 100 may also comprise an opaque film that is attached to the back of the tester 100. In one embodiment, the tester may be made of a transparent rigid material and an opaque film attached to the back of the tester 100. Words may be inscribed either within the transparent rigid material or onto the opaque film, so as to provide a consumer with information. The opaque film provides a contrast to the inscribed words of the tester 100.

The handle 110 of the cosmetic tester 100 may comprise any shape, and in a preferable embodiment, the handle 110 has a rectangular shape with two ends, one of which is attached to the topper and the other rounded in shape. The topper 120 attached to the handle may have any shape, and in a preferable embodiment, the topper 120 is shaped like human lips.

Cosmetics may be applied to the topper so as to simulate the actual application of the cosmetic products to a particular part of the body. In a preferable embodiment, the tester 100 may be used with permanent or long-lasting cosmetics, such as LipSense® by SeneGence. These “permanent” cosmetics may be waterproof, does not kiss-off, smear-off, or rub-off, and these “permanent” cosmetics last four to eighteen hours. Some “permanent” cosmetics may stain human skin and therefore the use of the tester 100 allows for consumers for simulation of the application of the cosmetic without actual application or staining of human skin.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the cosmetic tester is used 200 in one embodiment. A cosmetic to be tested, for example lipstick, is applied to one side of the topper 230, preferably to the side not covered by the opaque film. Once the cosmetic is coated on the tester 210, a consumer then holds the tester 210 to the appropriate location, and in this preferable embodiment, the consumer holds the tester 210 to his or her lips in order to view the cosmetic, simulating application to the lips without actual application. As the consumer holds the tester 210 to his or her lips, the topper 230 with the applied cosmetic covers the consumer's lips with the side covered with the cosmetic facing way from the consumer, simulating application. A consumer using this cosmetic tester 210 would be able to see in a mirror a simulation of application of the cosmetic via the cosmetic tester 210.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is established by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Further, the recitation of method steps does not denote a particular sequence for execution of the steps. Such method steps may therefore be performed in a sequence other than recited unless the particular claim expressly states otherwise. 

1. A cosmetic tester adapted for simulating application of a cosmetic, wherein the tester comprises: a handle with a first end and a second end; and a topper attached to the first end of the handle, wherein the topper is shaped to form lips to which the cosmetic may be applied.
 2. The tester of claim 1, wherein the tester is constructed from acrylic.
 3. The tester of claim 1, wherein the tester is constructed from plastic.
 4. The tester of claim 1, wherein the tester is transparent.
 5. The tester of claim 4, wherein a back side of the tester is covered by an opaque film.
 6. The tester of claim 1, wherein the cosmetic is applied to a front side of the topper.
 7. The tester of claim 1, wherein the tester is ⅛ of an inch thick.
 8. A method of using a cosmetic tester adapted for simulating application of a cosmetic, wherein the tester comprises a handle with a first end and a second end; and a topper attached to the first end of the handle ember, wherein the topper is shaped to form lips, the method comprising: applying the cosmetic to a front side of the topper of the tester; holding the tester by the handle to a person's lips, wherein holding the tester to a person's lips comprise covering the person's lips with the topper to simulate application of the cosmetic, and wherein the front side of the topper is facing away from the person.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tester is shatter resistant.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the tester is constructed from acrylic.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tester is constructed from plastic.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the tester is transparent.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein a back of the tester is covered an opaque material.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the tester is ⅛ of an inch thick. 